B of A Foreclosure Mistake – Dead Husband’s Ashes Missing

The foreclosure mess has claimed another victim, this time in Truckee, California. It seems that Bank of America foreclosed on the wrong home and sent in its goon squad of contractors to remove the owner’s contents. Along with all of the furniture, clothing, and other personal items, were the ashes of the dead husband of the owner. After finding out that the bank had erred and subsequently revoked the foreclosure, the husband’s ashes are nowhere to be found.

Needless to say the family is upset about the incident and have filed a lawsuit against Bank of America. In one recent article it also stated that:

In an era when millions of homes have received foreclosure notices nationwide, lawsuits detailing bank break-ins like the one at Ms. Ash’s house keep surfacing. And in the wake of the scandal involving shoddy, sometimes illegal paperwork that has buffeted the nation’s biggest banks in recent months, critics say these situations reinforce their claims that the foreclosure process is fundamentally flawed.

Identifying the number of homeowners who were locked out illegally is difficult. But banks and their representatives insist that situations like Ms. Ash’s represent just a tiny percentage of foreclosures.

Many of the incidents that have become public appear to have been caused by confusion over whether a house is abandoned, in which case a bank may have the right to break in and make sure the property is secure.

Some of the cases appear to be mistakes involving homeowners who were up to date on their mortgage — or had paid off their home — but who still became targets of a bank.

I love the statement that these types of mistaken foreclosures make up a small amount of all foreclosures. It is only a small amount if you are not one of the victims. I am sure Bank of America will settle this case out of court, but if it chooses not to, I would love to be on the jury.